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. Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

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Fly l APPLICATION FILED APB-.28, i910.

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UNITED STATES IJATENT OFFICE.

/ ARTHUR W. FORD, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

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969,097, Speccation of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 30, 1910,

Application filed April 28, 1910. Serial No. 558,145.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. FORD, a citizen of the. United States, and a resident of Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Columns, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the construction from structural metal of caps and bases for columns comprising metallic tubes illed with concrete or the like. This is especially desirable where such tubes are cylindrical, or are otherwise formed with an exterior surface too curved or irregular to permit of structural elements being riveted or bolted thereto.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is au elevation of a column made in accordance with my invention, the upper part thereof being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one end of a column having a cap or base partially formed thereon. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same with the plate removed. Fig. 4 is a similar View of a modified form of the same.

The cap and base of this column are made practically identical so far as arrangement of parts is concerned, the only difference being in the method of applying them to the tube. The description of one such terminal member will therefore suffice for both.

The tube l is illustrated as cylindrical, that being the shape for which the base or cap is especially designed, and is lled with cement, concrete and the like, 2. Embedded in the concrete but projecting a short distance from the end of the tube is a section of structural iron, preferably an I-beam 3; and to both at faces of this projecting part of the I-beam is riveted or otherwise fastened other sections of I-beams 4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. To the outer surface of each I-beam 4 between the anges thereof, is fastened an angle 5, as shown in Fig. 1; and then in Contact with the I-beams 4 and the angles 5 is fastened a heavy plate 6, preferably of structural steel or iron. Finally, between the edge of the tube and the I-beams 4 are placed two narrow plates 7, by means of which the pressure between the plate 6 and said tube is distributed over as much of the latter as possible. This completes the cap or base.

For the base, it is preferable to rst build the same entirely separate from the tube, and then, having placed the same upon a support with the beam 3 projecting upward, the tube is placed down about said beam and filled with the cement or concrete. If the cap has been made separately, as was the base just described, such cap may be positioned upon the upper end of the tube, forcing the beam 3 down into such of the concrete as comes near the top of the tube. Before putting the plates 7 in place, the balance of the concrete is introduced into the tube until the latter is solidly lled. The plates 7 are thenput in vplace and the completed column permitted to rest until the concrete has set and hardened.

Although the beam 3 is shown as an I-beam, it may be of any type of structural metal, the important thing being that it shall possess suflicient rigidity to suitably bind the base and cap to the tubular portion; for it is found that when a column is provided with such terminals, either integral therewith or otherwise inflexibly connected with the same, the resistance of the colunm to buckling is greatly increased. Further, two or more beams may be used in place of the single one illustrated in Figs. l to 3, as shown by Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows, in addition, other forms of beams for both the parts 3 and the members 4, as channels 3a, 4a. On many accounts, however, I prefer to employ sections of I-beams as first described.

Thus constructed, the column or post is made of maximum ability to resist strains, shocks and fire, while it is at the same time of minimum cost.

It is possible to provide concrete-filled cylindrical shells with bases and capitals of cast iron and cast steel where the same are to be employed for buildings of but one story, but for high structures where as a matter of safety the superposed columns should be fastened securely together, such cast metal terminals are quite objectionable, inasmuch as they are incapable of strong attachment to the shells. Moreover, such cast metal terminals are brittle; and they are greatly liable to blow-holes, cracks and other imperfections impossible of detection until after an accident has disclosed their weakness. It is therefore absolutely impossible for an engineer to determine the strength of a structure employing the same. lVith the steel shell filled with concrete, and terminals therefor composed of structural shapes, all

such uncertainty is eliminated and a column is produced which can always be depended upon.

What I claim as my invention and for which I desire Letters Patent is as follows, to wit;

l. A column comprising a tubular member, a filling of concrete or the like therefor, a plate, an inflexible beam partially embedded in the concrete, and means indexibly fastening the projecting portion of said beam to said plate.

2. A column comprising a tubular member, a filling of concrete or the like therefor, a plate, an inflexible beam partially embedded in the concrete, and angles fastened to said beam and plate.

3. A column comprising a tubular membei', a filling of concrete or the like, a plate, an inflexible beam partially embedded in the concrete, sections of structural shapes fastened to said beam, and means fastening said sections to said plate.

4;. A column comprising a tubular member, a filling of concrete or the like therefor, and a terminal for the same consisting of a metallic beam embedded in the concrete and projecting a limited distance beyond the end of said member, a plate, and means embracing angles fastening said plate and beam rigidly together.

5. A column comprising a tubular member, a filling of concrete or the like therefor, and a terminal for the same consisting of a short section of beam embedded in the concrete and projecting a limited distance from the said member, sections of structural shapes fastened to opposite faces of said beam, a plate, means fastening said plate to said shapes, and plates located between said shapes and the end of said member.

(i. A column comprising a tubular mem ber, a filling of concrete or the like therefor, an I-beam partially embedded in the concrete, short sections of I-beams fastened to lateral faces of the projecting end of the first-named I-beam, angles fastened to the last-named I-beams, and a plate fastened to A. B. UPHAM, I-I. L. IVHrr'rLnsnY. 

